Summer California Trip

I was thinking about how when we had just Emry I used to go home to California like 4-5 times a year. It was an easy flight--short and cheap, and so we did it often. But recently we've only been going for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. I decided we needed to make the effort to go more often so off we went to California. My mom helped me drive down there with the three kids. We drove straight through and the kids did awesome on the drive! We had so much fun but we missed our daddy while we were gone.

 Morning snuggles on the couch

 We spent the whole day swimming at Grandma Donna's. Emry took a 2 week swimming class and so she did really awesome swimming.

Love reading books with Grandma before bed

 We spent Saturday at the Orange County Fair. I loved going to the fair growing up so it's always so fun for me to take my kids back.

 They had a "reading program" thing at the fair where if the kids wrote a book report on 3 books, they got free ride tickets. So we had Emry draw pictures of the books she had read so we could ride fun rides!

 She got brave and wanted to ride all the rides she could!

 My dad was great and held Norah almost the whole time.

 Eating ice cream to cool off. It was so hot!

 The best cinnamon roll in the world! It's tradition to get one every time!

 Welsey bonked his head hard so I fashioned an ice pack out of Norah's head band. Pretty genius!

 Beach day! Emry loved the sand--being buried, digging, etc. But she was totally scared of the waves and water. Wesley loved jumping over the waves. All in all, the beach was a success.

 Emry with her mermaid tail!

What a cutie!

 Let's say the kids were so spoiled the whole time we were there. One morning Cameron wasn't thrilled with the cereal choices so Grandpa decided to take the kids to get donuts. Two each! haha! These kids!

 

More swimming! Norah really liked swimming because the pool water was really warm.

 This is the cutest baby ever!

  One day we drove to Malibu to see Scott and his hotel, Calimigos Ranch. It was so beautiful and fun to see where Scott works. 

Sitting poolside!

 There's this old carousel on the property that was so perfect! It had so much character I just loved it! (The kids did too!)

 These two love each other!

 They have the most beautiful wedding sites on the property. This one in particular was so pretty. It is the location where they shot the wedding scene in Parenthood, the tv show.

 The ranch has a little private place that you can walk down to the beach. It was so beautiful.

 Eating dinner, Emry says she wants pickles. She has always said she doesn't like pickles but since being at my mom's she now says she likes them. It's hilarious because she only says that because she wants to be like Cadence who actually does like pickles. She was telling she like pickles as she ate one and practically choked it down. Hilarious! She just loves her cousins!

 On our way home we stopped at Kris and Bjorn's to have a little break. Here is Norah and Rosie (born only 3 days apart!).

Happy 6th Birthday Olivia

I can't believe it's been 6 years! 

I feel like I have so much to say about her birthday but really all I can say is how much I love and miss that sweet girl. We love you Olivia Lane!

Flaming Gorge

Our friends invited us to their cabin in Flaming Gorge. It was such a fun time just hanging out, playing games, chatting, etc.

We started by visiting Ryan's Grandma's house. It was Wesley and Norah's first time there. Ryan's Grandma is still in rehab in Ogden so she wasn't there, but the kids loved the tire swing. Then we had dinner at Don Pedros where we had the largest burritos EVER!

We spent the night playing games and chatting. The kids all slept in the same room with bunk beds and were so happy! In the morning we had a yummy breakfast and then headed to a little hike around the reservoir. We stopped and let the kids wade in the water and ate lunch. On the way back, we stopped for some ice cream. Wesley fell asleep the second we got in the car so him and I took a nap in the car while everyone else went in and ate. When we got back to the cabin the kids played baseball outside and house inside and the adults played games. We ate dinner, the kids watched a movie on the projector, and we played more games. It was a blast!

 Movie night on the projector: Wesley wanted to be on Emry's lap. haha!!

 Sunday we woke up, had breakfast, cleaned up, packed up, and headed to church in Vernal. We had such a fun time hanging out and just being together. The kids had a blast being together!

Gardner Family Reunion 2016

 Gardners go to Sterling

Where, you ask? Middle of nowhere, Sterling, UT! We rented a cabin near Palisade's Lake. It was such a fun time being together. Sadly, Ben and Shalon couldn't come this year since Shalon is about to have a baby, but Vivian went and got Cael and Leah so they got to come play. And Jason got a new job and had to work so he and Jenna couldn't come either so we were down two families this year. We missed them but still managed to have some fun ;) I'll let the pictures do most of the talking, so here we go!

Wesley loved going on rides with Dad and Uncle Natty!

 Having a blast riding in the Rav4!

 She had a blast too!

 Gavin too!

 Love how Grandma and Grandpa are always willing to play with the kids. They love playing duck duck goose!

 We went to Yuba lake 3 days. We wake boarded and went on the jet skis and the kids loved the tube. They really liked sitting in the tube while someone would pull them up and down the shore. They liked tubing behind the boat but it was half joy and half fear. Haha! 

 Eating lunch at the lake

 Emry loves playing in the sand. "sand angels were great!"

 Wesley loved to ride on the boat

 Me and Ryan on the boat. Love this guy!

 Wake boarding is still one of my very favorite things to do. I wish I was in better shape so I could go longer and do funner stuff because man, that wore me out!!

 Emry on the jet ski with Gavin and Grandpa!

 Grandpa cuddling Emry and Wesley in the tube. We were hoping they (mostly Wes) would fall asleep. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

 Norah loved the lake too. We set up the pack and play so she could sleep without getting all sandy. Worked great.

 Getting buried in the sand was a highlight of the trip.

 Driving the boat with Daddy (super dirty from a combo of sunscreen and sand)

 Wesley loved the tube the most!

 Or maybe it was a tie between the tube and the jet ski!

 Wearing her helmet, waiting for her turn on the four wheeler.

 Waiting for his turn on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa

 At the lake, there was a little 9 year old girl named Isis who had a kayak with just her parents. She really wanted other kids to play with, so she gave the kids rides in her kayak and she rode on our boat with us. We decided it would be pretty boring to be the only child on a vacation. haha!

 Tubing with Jacks and Em!

 Driving the boat like a pro!

 Jumping off the boat to Uncle Nate

 We looked pretty awesome getting ready for a ride on the Rav 4. We got so dirty on the rides so we wore these to help save our hair from all the dirt.

 Leah loved the rides the most. She had a huge grin on her face the whole time! It was hilarious!

 The boys went golfing 3 times while we were there! What?!?! One of the times was a glow in the dark golfing tournament. We made it a triple date and all the wives went to watch. I'll admit I was pretty excited and thought it was a blast for about the first 5 holes. Then, I just got tired and wanted to go to bed. It was a good experience though.

4 Months: Norah

Weight: 14 lbs 4 oz 61%)

Height: 24.3 inches (48%)

Head: 16.3 inches (59%)

Norah is such a bright spot in our home! Everyone is drawn to her and can't help but smile when she's around!

*Happiest baby! She can't contain her smile if you make eye contact. 

*Started laughing! She loves to be tickled! She's most ticklish on those luscious thighs and her armpits

*Rocks those baby blues!

*Wears size 3-6 months and size 2 diapers

*Has a hint of red hair!! It's too soon to call it but there is a slight chance this girl might end up a redhead! 

*Has rolled over from her tummy to her back a couple of times and from her back to her tummy once

*Started playing with toys. Her "crinkly purse" is her favorite toy

*Wants to put everything in her mouth-especially my fingers. She loves to chew on my fingers!
*Loves her Bumbo. She loves to sit there so she can see everything going on. She loves watching her crazy brother and sister play!

*Loves her bath time. It definitely makes her calm and happy.

*Adored by her Mamma, Daddy, Emry, and Wesley!

Evolution of a Rollover!